J. Robert Fowler
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| Jonathan Robert Fowler | |
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| In office 1989 – 1991 |
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| Vice President | Roger Durling |
| Preceded by | Robert J. Bennett |
| Succeeded by | Roger Durling |
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| Born | May 29, 1935 Ohio, US |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Julie Fowler |
Jonathan Robert (Bob) Fowler is a fictional character in the Jack Ryan universe created by Tom Clancy. In the novel The Sum of All Fears, Bob Fowler was President of the United States.
[edit] Book bio
Before the election Fowler was Governor of Ohio, and after his predecessor threw the election, Fowler won the presidency with campaign manager Arnie Van Damm. He was later confronted with the nuclear attack on Denver (Baltimore in the film). Believing it was done by the Soviet Union, he attempted a retaliation. It was then that Jack Ryan averted the attack by talking on the hotline with the Soviet Premier Narmonov (renamed Nemerov in the movie). He received a lot of bad information from National Security Advisor Elisabeth Elliot, with whom he was having a relationship.
A curious twist is that the terrorists behind the attack devise a backup plan in the event of failure. When this indeed happens and they are captured, they put it in the works by implicating the Iranian dictator, Mahmoud Haji Daryaei, as responsible for the attack. Fowler is enraged and orders the city of Qom destroyed through a nuclear attack.
After Ryan averts the attack by enforcing the two-man rule, the terrorists accidentally reveal the ruse and that they devised it in order to discredit and shame the U.S. in the eyes of the world. The upshot of this would be that the delicate peace process is destroyed and that the campaign against Israel thereby could continue.
Nearly two days after the incident Fowler broke down, realizing what he almost did. He then resigned, allowing his vice-president, Roger Durling, to carry out his term.
According to the book, his Secret Service codename was FALCON.
[edit] Film bio
Fowler again won the presidency with Arnold Van Damm and he was Governor of Ohio. He was a Democrat and married to his wife Julie.
In the film Liz Elliot was wiped out from the film plotline and replaced by Gene Revell. Fowler was more considerate and cautious than in the book. Whilst Fowler was making a speech at the White House Correspondents dinner a bomb was dropped on Chechnya. Fowler was taken to the underground bunker and he was advised to give a heavy response.
Afterwards Fowler was due to visit a football game in Baltimore. A nuclear weapon was in the stadium but thanks to Jack Ryan who informed Bill Cabot and they were able to evacuate President Fowler from the stadium before it blew up.
Fowler's motorcade was blown off the road but he survived and was airlifted to a Boeing E-4B. Whilst on there he went to DEFCON 2, communicated with President Nemerov and planned a counter attack. He later ordered Secret Service to escort Julie to an underground bunker in Nevada. However just as Fowler was about to launch nuclear weapons, Ryan convinced him not to. He signed a peace treaty with Nemerov. It is not known whether he resigned, he may have served the rest of his term.
[edit] Fowler's Cabinet
- Vice President Roger Durling
- Secretary of State Sidney Owens (film)
- Secretary of State Brent Talbot (book)
- Secretary of Defense David Becker (film)
- Secretary of Defense Dennis Bunker (book)
- Director of the CIA William "Bill" Cabot (film)
- Director of the CIA Marcus Cabot (book)
- National Security Advisor Gene Revell (film)
- National Security Advisor Elizabeth Elliot (book)
He later recommended Ryan to be NSA for his successor.
He is portrayed by James Cromwell in the film version.
